Adolescent Mothers and Internal Representational Models: Abuse, Neglect, and Romantic Relationships

The purpose of this study was to explore risk and protective factors associated with internal representation models of adolescent mothers. The study also looked at the role the mothers’ internal representational models play in their interaction with their romantic partners. The proposed model of abuse and neglect differentiated mothers with adequate internal models from those with abusing or neglecting models. The study was based on data analyses of self-report measures from 28 adolescent mothers from an ongoing longitudinal study. Results confirmed the hypothesis that adolescent mothers with neglecting and abusing internal models, which include a mistrust of self and others, report more depression, lower self-esteem, ineffective problem-solving approach, and pessimism. The results supported the hypothesis that mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment are more likely to have inadequate models. However, mothers who reported maltreatment as a child, but who had an effective problem-solving orientation and trusted themselves, were at less risk for child maltreatment. The results also supported the hypothesis that mothers’ internal models are associated with their romantic attachment style and their interaction with their romantic partners.